Tips for achieving and sustaining success

August 20, 2015

Motivational speaker and author Red Katz knows what it means to be successful – he’s done it twice, the second time after losing nearly everything.

Raised in a middle class family in a suburb of New York City, Red was expected to go college, land a good paying job, get married and have kids. In keeping with those expectations, he did exactly that.

Red seemed to have the world in the palm of his hands until he found himself bankrupt, divorced, separated from his children, riddled with anxiety and suffering from depression. With no place to live, he stayed in his brother’s basement – his entire life broken during the course of a year.

At the brink of an abyss, Red woke up and realized that he was responsible for everything that had happened to him. More importantly, he was responsible for everything that was going to happen. The combined earthquakes he had experienced over that dark year caused him to start living consciously. Red’s life shifted, marking the beginning of his second foray into success.

With a passion for helping people, Red decided to pursue a career in public speaking. He also wrote a book. Everyone experiences challenges but they don’t all know how to turn adversity into opportunity. Red knows how and shares his insights with others.

In describing his experience capturing success a second time, Red says, “I found what I wanted to do and let it happen. I set clean boundaries in all aspects of my life and didn’t let business or money control me. I stayed in control making the business work for me rather than me working for the business.”

One of the outcomes of rediscovering himself is Red’s book: YOUlogy. It sounds like an unusual title until you think about it. YOUlogy is about rediscovering yourself and how you want to live your life – living the way you want to be remembered.

During speaking engagements, Red opens his audience to his own lessons. “When they hear my story – on top, sunk to bottom, back to top they think: “If he did that I can do it, too.’”

In Red’s experience success is derived from several factors.

Discover your passion – what you love to do. Take money out of the equation.

Stop hanging in there and start swinging. When you’re swinging, you’re moving. And if you’re moving backwards, the momentum of the swing will eventually propel you forward.

Take ownership of your life and choices. You are the architect of your own life. Use that power to create the life you want.

Find a friend or partner to help you hold yourself accountable.

Be grateful for what you have now.

Continue growing, keep moving or you’ll be left behind.

Red’s final piece of advice: “Success isn’t easy – it’s hard work. Many times there is pain in the journey. Behind most success stories are challenges people have pushed through. Never regret the hard work. It’s so much better on the other side.”

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Red Katz shares powerful success strategies with organizations and groups looking for motivation, inspiration, and results. He’s always on the lookout for new speaking engagements. For more information go to www.redinspires.com.